Flexible toy



Filed Nov. l0, 1928 I nvenay 5'. Conc danclzz'se Y part of this speciication,--

Patented `May 2l, 1929.`

SALVATORE coLLEDANoHisE,

0E BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.:

FLEXIBLE ToY.

`Application filed November 10, 1923. Serial No. 318,321.v

i This invention relatesto a flexible toyY simulating a snake, or other living thing, and adapted to be manipulated so as to wriggle or undulate like a snake, the toy includingv an elongated body composed of a flexible connecting stri extending from end to end of the body, an body blocks fixed in pairs to opposite sides of the strip and having oppositely facing `tends.' forming transverse grooves in opposite'sides of the body, whereby lateral flexure of the body 1s permitted.

A toy thus yconstructed is well known, but, in consequence of the grooves extending across the opposite sides of' the body, does not present a sufficiently .realistici appearance. In other Words, its surface is deeply .indented yand does not closely resemble the smooth surface provided'by the skin of' a snake or a fish.

The object of the invention is to provide a flexible toy including a body characterized as above stated, andV a flexible sheath coverthe sheath simulates a practically continuous' skin, the sheath being adapted to be flexed with the body, and to partially conceal the grooves in the bulging side of the flexed body, and entirely conceal the grooves in the opposite side,l so that the snake-like efkf'ectof the body is not detracted from by the grooves to an` objectionable extent, the grooves at the bulging side being 'nearly concealed, while-those iii-the opposite side are entirely concealed. 's y Of the accompanying drawings forming a Figure 1 is a side viewof a ltoy embodying the invention. Y Y

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view on an enlarged scale, a portion of the sheath being shown in section. f

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig- Vlires l and 2.

Figure l is a ures 1 and `2. v f y Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure, showing a. result of flexurel of the bodyv and sheath. 3

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing a portion of the flexible strip and two pairs of body blocks attached thereto.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing a portionof the sheat section online 4-4 of Fig! The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

l The fiexible body of the toy is composed of aiielongated fiexible preferably of cloth, and body blocksv 13,

fixed in pairs to opposite sides of .the strip,

each block being preferably molded `from a plastic composition which adheres to the strip and is adapted to be solidified by di' iing. The blocks have oppositely facing en s, forming transverse V-shaped Agrooves 14 in opposite sides of the body.

As here shown, the bodyi's `formed to simulate a snake. It may be formed to simulate Va fish, as shown by-my Patentv No. 1,636,589,

dated July 19, 1927.` n

15 designates a flexible sheath covering the blocks 13, and bridging the grooves 14..

The sheath may be cemented, or otherwise secured to the blocks, and may be composed of an elastic rubber tube, normally of a diconnecting stripl12', Y

ameter to fit thel tapering endportions of. i

the body, and adapted'to be stretched to fit the larger inidlcngth portion ofthe body. If desired, the sheath may be formed by wrapping a blank of any suitable sheet material around the body and causing one edge of the blank to overlap the other, as indicated at 16 in Figure 7. Slits 17 are cut in faoV the portions of the sheath which bridge the grooves-14, the slits extending lengthwise of the grooves and permitting fiexure of the sheath with the body.

When the body is flexed the slits at the i bulging `side of the body are opened `and lthose at the opposite side are closed, as' -shown by Figure 5.

straight, all ofthe slits are closed, as indi-V cated by Figures l, 2r and 8, so that the Then the I body is sheathv simulates a practically continuous skin concealing the grooves 14.-. The openingy of the slits l body is relatively slight, the notches 'formed by the opening of the slits being much narrower than the notches le, so that the notches L14 at the bulging side are inconspicuous, and those -at'the opposite side are` concealed.v

at the bulging side of theY i The body may be provided at one end` with a head 22, and at the opposite end with a tail, the head projecting from one end of the sheath, and the tail being covered by the v sheath.

I claim: i Y j A jointed toy comprising a flexible` body composed of an elongated flexible connecting f strip, and body blocksfixed in pairs to opposite sides of the strip, and having oppositely facing ends forming transverse V- shaped grooves 1n opposite sides of the body,

whereby lateral fiexnre'of the body is per closed when the body is straight, so that the 10 sheath simulates a practically continuous skin concealing the grooves, the slits at the bulging sides of the body opening but slightly When the body is flexed.

In testimony whereof Ihave afixed my 15 si gnature.

SALVATORE COLLEDANCHISE. 

